Motorcycle



1.0.JOHNSTON.

MOTORCYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED APILZQ. 1918.

1,332,042 Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

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MOTORCYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED Anus/Isle.

Patented Feb. 24,1920;

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To all whom it mag concern:

Be. it known that I, J OHN ODELL JOHN sTON; a citizenof'the United states and a resident of Newark, in the county of .Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motorcycles, ofvwhich the following, is a specification. i

The invention pertains more particularly to novel meansfor supporting, guiding and cushioning the supporting "wheel connected with the chassis for the side-car of'a motor- 3 cycle, and it'conslsts 1n the novel features.

particularl fo resulted to the o'ccupantso f side-cars from excessive jolting.

One oloject of my invention is to provide means, independent of the chassis, for ab-' sorbing the shocks occasioned by the'side wheel going over uneven surfaces, and a further purpose of the invention'is to pro? vide wheel-mounting which wlll render the cycle as aivliole more convenient and comfortable of use. The invention comprisingthe frames and s1de-car wheel arecapable of application to the chassis frames at present in use and hence may be attached to motorcycles already in use; and on the market in substitution for the ordinary wheelsused for the side-cars ofthese cycles.

My invention will be fully understood from the detailed des'ription hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanving drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is'a top view p ar tly broken away, of the chassis foigaside ar formotorcycles equipped with the features connected t th up rt n h e o itu insjmy invention; i

Fig. 2 1s a vertical longitudinal section s peci fieati ongqf Lettersyatent.

atented Feb. 24, 1 920.

Application filed April 29,1918. Serial No. 231,568. r r

through {the same take 22 of Fig. 1;

11 a he we li Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sec-tion through a portion of the sa'me, on a larger scale, taken ,on' the dotted line 3+30f-Fig; 1];

Fig. 4- is a vertical section through a por tion of the same, taken pm the dottedfline Fig. 5 is a transverse section through a portion ofthe same, taken on thedotted line 5-5 ofFi 4c, and l :Fig; 6 is a'transverse section through a portion of the same andthe frontbariof the chassis frame taken on the dotted line ofFiglli a V In the drawings, 1O designates a portion of the chassis frame for the side carof a motorcycle, this frame being somewhat rectangular' inou'tl'i ne'and comprising a side 7 bar 11, a front end bar 12 and a tubular rear member or bar 13, whichmember '13 has heretofore been utilized to receive the axle of the side supporting wheel, but which in accordance 'With my invention deemployed to, adjustably receive a rod -14v.' extending laterallyfrom the longitudinalbar 15 constituting a portion ofa frame 16, said frame 16 comprising the aforesaidbar 15 and-a curved rear member 17 whi hcurves outwardly and inpart aids in the formation of an inclosing frame for an auxiliary frame or yoke 18; e I Thefront end of thebar ,15is se7ured a clamp l9to a laterallyextending rod-20 vwhich is secured by clamps 21 to the front bar .12 of the chassis frame. Therodr20 at its outer-lend is pivotall'vsecuredfby a bolt, 22, with a bearing block 23 constituting a universal joint connection between the frame 18 and the rod 20 ea id frame ,V18j-at its front lendheing pivotally iseirred by a bolt 2a with the aforesaid .blo' k 23. a nd said" bolts22 2 4 being extended right angles to ea h other; The b ock mav therefore tnrnlaterally on the pivot 22 and the frame 18 may turn laterally with said blo k23 and "al o verti ally in a hinged lnianner on the pivot bolt 24.

The frame .or yoke 18 is an elongated 7 frame comprising side bars 25;26 andf end bars27 28, and said frame or 'yokeISjlio'rizontally encompasses the supporting wheel 29 and afl'ordsvbea'rings forithefaxle 3'0l for' said wheel. The side bar s 25, 26extent. forwardly beyond the front end. bar 27, so as to straddle the block 23 and afford apertured ends to receive the pivot bolt 24. The rear upon which are confined coiled springs 38,

end ofthe frame 18 is formed with a slotted rearwardly projecting arm 31 which loosely receives a transverse rod 32 whose ends are connected by vertical bolts 33, 34 with the rear portion of the frame 16, as clearly illustrated in Fig.3. The endsof the rod 32 are flattened out and apertured to formplates 3 5,

36, and upon these plates are provided cups 37 through which the bolts 33, 34 pass and whose lowerends rest within the cups 37 and whose upper ends are engaged by Washers 39 located upon the upper ends of the bolts 33, 34 and immediately below the heads thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower portions of the rods 33, 34 extend through vertical sleeves 40 which extend vertically through the member l7 of the frame 16 and are engaged at their lower ends by the nuts 41 on the bolts 33, 34. The transverse bar 32 and cups 37 may yield vertically with the yoke or frame 18 when the wheel-29 is passing over uneven surfaces, and the purpose of the springs 38 is to cushion the shocks due to the wheel 29 passing over uneven surfaces and to prevent. the transmi's sion of such shocks to the chassis frame and side car. r

I also provide two springs 42, 43 connect- 7 ing the frames 16, 18, as shown in Fig. 1,

the spring 42 being secured at its forward end to the side arm 25 of the yoke or frame 18 and at its rear end to the member 17 of the frame 16. The spring 43 is secured at its. front end to the side bar 26 of the yoke or frame 18 and at its rear end to the frame 16. The springs 42, 43 are horizontally disposed and normallyact to maintain the yoke or frame 18 parallel with the member 15013 the frame 16 and to restore said yoke or frame 18 to such position of'parallelism when, under the conditions of travel, the wheel 29 and yoke or frame 18 are caused to swivel laterally in one direction or the other on the pivot bolt 22. The springs 42. 43 cushion the lateral shocks which may be imparted to the wheel 29 when said wheel is passing over surfaces calculated to create v such shocks. The springs 38 and the springs 42, 43 coiiperate to absorb all of the shocks which due to conditions of travel may be inaiwurated through the wheel 29, and thereby relieve the chass s framelO and the side car to be mounted thereon from shocks and the violent tremulous movement to which the car is ordinarily, in motorcycles as heretofore con tructed, subjected.

The rod 14 is secured within the tubular 7 member 13 by means of a cotterpin or the l ke44, and said rod. which, may be a piece of tubing. is provided :with a number of vertical holes 45 to receive the key or pin 44, and the tubular member 13 is formed with upper and lower holes with which the respective holes 45 may be alined to receive said pin or key 44, whereby the rod 14 is rendered capable ofadjustment laterally with relation to the chassis frame. This lateral adjustment of the rod 14 is desirable, since thereby the frames 16, 18 may be adjusted in a direction from the chassis frame, so that the wheel 29 may, when necessary, be positioned to take the track left by automobiles or wagons. The outer end of the tubular member 13 is split, as shownin Fig. 4, and equipped with clamping ears 46 and a bolt 47, thereby permitting said member 13 to be bound against the'rod14. When the frames 16, 18 are adjusted outwardly,

the rod 20 will necessarily be adjusted accordingly, and such adjustment is permitted by the clamps 21. p r r The features embodying my invention reside in the attachment, comprising the frames 16, 18 and connected parts, for applicationto thechassis' frameof theside car'of a motorcycle, as a substitute for'the customary wheel connected directly with 7 said chassis frome and in rigid relation thereto. My invention provides for a yielding connection of the wheel and its T immediately cooperating parts with the chassis frame, and in 'this yielding connection of the wheel with the vehicle, means are pro- 42, 43. The member 31 at the rear end of the frame or yoke 18.is in the shape of a fork loosely receiving the transverse rod 32, which fork and rod permit of theproper 'lateralswiveling of the yoke or frame 18 and also the vertical swiveling of'said'yoke or frame. The springs 38 cushion the yoke or frame 18 and wheel v29 during the vertical movement thereof, and the springs 42,,

43 cushion said yoke or frame and wheel during the lateral swivelinsrthereof, said springs in each instance serving to return.

the yoke or frame 18 and wheel 29 to their normal position.

I do not limit my invention be an details l of form and arrangement otherwise than the appended claims may reouire, because, I reward m invention as broa ly new. and of sub tantial benefit when applied tothe side chassis of a motorcycle. I do notillustrate the side car. nor the motorcycle propen'be cause make no changes in these features,

but substitute my invention for the ordi nary side wheel found in motorcycles having side cars. lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. For side-car motorcycles, in combination, a chassis frame for the Sidecar, a rigid frame connected therewithand extending along the side thereof, a road wheel, a yokeframe receiving said wheel, means pivotally connecting one end of said yoke-frame with said rigid frame and permitting said yokeframe to yield vertically, a vertically movable rod on which the other end of said yokeframe is freely mounted, means loosely connecting the ends' of said rod with said rigid frame consisting of vertical rods extending through said rigid frame and the ends of said rod, and coiled springs mounted 'on said vertical rods and bearing on the ends of'said rod and tending to hold the same and said yoke-frame in normal position.

2. For side-car motorcycles, in combination, a chassis frame for the side-car, a rigid frame connected therewith and extending along the side thereof, a road wheel, a yokeframe receiving said wheel, means pivotally connecting one end of said yoke-frame with sald rigid frame and permitting said yokeframe to swivel laterally, a rod on which the other end of said yoke-frame is supported and guided in its lateral movements, and springs connecting said rigid and yoke frames and tending to hold said yoke frame in normal position.

3. For side-car motorcycles, in combination, a chassis frame for the s1de-car',a Ilgld;

frame connected therewith and extending along the side thereof, a road wheel, a yokeframe receiving said wheel, means pivotally connecting one end of said yoke-frame with said rigid frame and permittingsaid yokeframe to swivel laterally, a rod on which the other end of said yoke-frame is sup-' ported and guided in its lateral movements, andv sprlngs connecting said rigid and yoke frames and tending to hold said yoke frame in normal position, said springs being coiled and secured at their front ends to said yoke frame and thence extended rearwardly on diverging lines and secured at their rear ends to said rigid frame.

4:. For side-car motorcycles, in combination, a chassis frame for the side car, a rigid frame connected therewith and extending along the side thereof, a road wheel, a yokeframe receiving said wheel, means pivotally connecting oneencl of said yoke-frame with said rigid frame'and permitting said yokeframe to yield vertically and laterally, a

vertically movable rod on which the other end of said yoke-frame is freely mounted and guided, means'loosely connecting the ends of said rod with said rigid frame, springs engaging said rod and tending to hold the same and the adjacent end of said yoke frame in their normal down position, and side springs connecting saidrigid and yoke-frames'and tending to hold said yokeframe and wheel in alined relation to the chassis.

5. For side-car motorcycles. in combination, a chassis frame for the side-car, a rigid frame at the side thereof, means connecting said frames and permitting the adjustment of the rigid frame toward and from the chassis frame, a roadwheel, a yoke-frame receiving said wheel, means pivotally connecting one end of said yoke-frame with swivel laterally, springs. acting against the other end of said wheel frame to retain the same and the wheel in their down position, and side springs actlng against said wheel.

frame to retain the same and the wheel in alined relation to the chassis.

7. For side-car motorcycles, in combination, a chassis frame for the side-car, a road wheel for the outer side thereof, a frame carrying said wheel, means connecting said. frames and permitting of the adjustment of the wheel frame toward and from the chassis frame, means pivotally mounting the wheel frame at one-end to yield vertically and also swivel laterally, springs acting against the other end of said wheel frame to retain the same and the wheel in their down position, and side springs acting against said wheel frame to retain the same and the wheel in alined relation to the chassis.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York. this 22nd day of April, A. D. 1918.

- JOHN ODELL JOHNSTON; Witnesses: ARTHUR MARION,

CHAS. C. GILL. 

